Best Solar Power Bank
The BioLite SolarPanel 5+ has its own kickstand for orienting it on the ground for charging, and you can also use the kickstand to hang it if needed. But whats remarkable about the BioLites designand unique among consumer solar chargersis the small sundial that you can use to find the optimal angle for soaking up sunrays. The dirty little secret is that the angle of the panel can make a big difference in how much energy you accumulate, and all solar chargers should have a widget like BioLites sundial to help you zero in on the right angle.
Theres also a 2,200-mAh battery built in so the solar array can be storing electricity even when theres no gadget plugged in. Want to charge devices directly? Theres a USB port to connect your phone or other device. You only get 5 watts of charging power, though, which is just a fraction of what you get with a model like BigBlue. That said, you can step up to BioLites 10-watt solar charger, which includes a fold-out second solar panel and a larger 3,000-mAh battery.
Best Waterproof: Outxe 25000mah Wireless Solar Power Bank
Weight: 1.28 pounds | Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.4 x 1.28 inches | Output ports: USB QC3.0 output, USB output 2.4A, wireless charging pad | Accessories: Micro USB charging cable, type-C charging cable, two carabiners
Designed with durable, military-grade construction, this OUTXE solar power bank is the perfect companion for hikers, kayakers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Not only is the device waterproof with an IP67 rating , its also dustproof and shockproof.
Equipped with an impressive 25,000 mAh battery, the OUTXE has the ability to charge three devices at the same time. Another convenient feature is that charging can be done wirelessly, and type C and micro USB cords are included. A built-in nylon strap allows you to attach the bank to the outside of your gear pack or boat, so the solar panel can charge on the go, or use pass-though charging when your devices are plugged into the wall.
Best Solar Power Banks For Iphone In 2021
Apple keeps upgrading iPhone and iPad every year with new hardware and software, but we hardly see any drastic upgrade in the battery. No matter how efficient this new hardware and software are, they will consume more battery with every upgrade. Our iDevices are getting power-hungry day-by-day, because of apps and games we keep installing. To overcome this issue of battery drain, we have already listed the best power banks for iPhone. Those power banks need to charge once they are exhausted, so today we have handpicked best solar power banks that will not need any external power source except sunlight.
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Charging A Phone With A Solar Power Bank
Power banks come with USB ports, where a USB cable compatible with your phone can be connected. Some power banks start charging automatically when a phone is connected, while some have a button to start charging.
Most solar power banks will have small LED lights to show if they are discharging or charging. When charging has started, the LED lights will light up and gradually turn off as the power bank battery pack goes on depleting, and the mobile phone battery is charged.
Mah Solar Charger From Tatida
Built with three output and two input ports, tatidas 26800mAh portable solar power bank can charge up to 4 devices simultaneously. If you have a smartphone or earbuds that have wireless charging, you can use this power banks Qi charging pad to power your gadgets without needing any cable.
When you go on camping or hiking or for business trips, this power bank can adequately keep your devices up and running. It has built-in protection from overcharging, over-current, over-voltage, and short circuits. Waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and sturdy construction are added bonuses.
Pros
- Excels in charging multiple devices at once
- Offers reliable shield against threats like overcurrent and overheating
Cons
- The flashlight consumes a bit more battery
Price: $41.99
Thats all!
Whats your favorite external charger?
Which one of these power banks have you selected to keep your device charged up? Let us know your choice and why you have picked it.
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Multiple Device Charging Speed
We were not blown away by this panel’s multiple-device charging abilities. It seems like the wireless charging station requires quite a lot of battery power, which takes away from the Blavor’s ability to deliver a charge through the USB ports. When charging one device wirelessly and one through a port, this panel could only charge each device a little bit. The wirelessly charged phone increased its battery level by 7%, while the phone plugged into the USB port charged 11% during our test period.
Can You Speed Up The Charging
Add more panels
As you might have noticed with the examples. The ADDTOP which has 4 panels rather than the standard 1, charges much more rapidly.
More panels give you more surface area for photons to strike and therefore electricity to be generated.
Taking this into account the best way to speed up solar charging is to add some more panels. This obviously requires you to have more space but there are some great options out there now.
The Nektek Solar Charger is a solar charger designed for the outdoors that has 3 decent size panels that fold up. There is no battery included in the unit but with USB outputs this will allow you to recharge your solar power bank more rapidly.
And because it has 2 USB charging points you can be recharging your device and recharging the power bank at the same time, making the best use of any available sunlight!
Using this you should be able to fully charge a large solar power bank in just one day.
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Best For Laptops: Rockpals 250w Portable Power Station
Weight: 11 pounds | Dimensions : 13.78 x 13.39 x 2.36 inches | Output ports: 250W continuous dual AC outputs, two USB 2.1A, four DC 12V ports | Accessories: 6.5 foot AC adapter, 3.3 foot car charger cable, DC to cigarette lighter socket adapter
Most laptops consume between 40 and 70 watts when charging, compared with just 2 to 6 watts used by cell phones. This means youll need a larger power bank plus a stronger solar panel to continuously replenish it so typical power banks wont cut it.
The Rockpals 250-watt power station includes a 60-watt expanding solar panel case and a multi-purpose power station with a 64,800 mAh lithium battery for charging several devices. The Rockpals station and panel is a convenient, portable unit that can turn any area into an off-grid office.
Its A Strong Power Bank
Look, most people just use their power bank for a quick recharge on their phone if theyre at school or something.
I use my power banks hard. When Im traveling, Im usually SUPER far from ANY electricity outlet.
If you see any pictures of me traveling, youll always see I have my power bank in my backpack charging something at least. Maybe its my AirPods, usually, its my phone, and sometimes its even my Chromebook.
Generally, its a combination of both. And sometimes youll have my phone charging, Carstens phone charging , and hes probably charging his Macbook too.
But with the multiple charging ports and the system Blavor uses to give equal charge to everything, its never a problem.
If you use a normal power bank, it might only have 1-2 USB ports. And even then, most of them will only charge ONE USB fast and the other one super slow. This is needless to say- just stupid.
Thank god the Blavor power bank doesnt do this. I can have multiple devices charging constantly and the power bank doesnt even flinch, it keeps charging everything good and keeps everybody happy.
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The Best Solar Power Banks For The Iphone
While Apple has made general improvements to the battery life for its iPhone lineup over the years, some folks may still want to bring along an accessory to make sure they can get through a full day without worrying about battery life.
An external power bank can help with that, and it gets even better when you add solar power to the mix. Weve put together a list of the best solar power banks that will help you keep your iPhone charged while on the go. So lets get right to it.
Best Battery Life Possible:
Of course, to ensure that you get the highest battery life possible. The Blavor chargers are designed so that you dont have to continually charge up your laptop. They offer a charging cycle feature, which automatically charges up the battery after a certain amount of time. The advantage here is that you never have to worry about recharging your battery. And it keeps your laptop topped up at all times. In addition, you wont find yourself constantly recharging.
Finally, one of the features that make Blavor chargers such a favourite amongst consumers is their guarantee. This means that if you buy your laptop from them and you dont like it. You can simply return it back to them for a full refund. This means that youll always be able to return a product that you arent completely happy with. and they will be happy to replace it for you. The solar power bank is best for Travelling.
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Solar Power Bank Charging Time In Direct Sunlight
Now you have a better idea of how and when solar power banks work best how long does it actually take to charge one?
As it will start getting too complicated when factoring in shade and cloud I will just assume you have access to constant direct sunlight.
Solar power banks also come in many different shapes and sizes. This will affect the charging time because the size of the battery varies.
The capacity of the battery is measured in milliampere-hours . You will see this in the description of the product before you buy it. It can vary from a few 2000mAh to 15,000mAh or more.
So I could give you lots of equations here allowing you to calculate the exact time it would take to fully charge your solar power bank, factoring in shade and sunlight intensity but I dont think that would be very useful.
The reality is that most manufacturers actually advise against trying to fully charge your solar power bank using the sun alone. The small panel can only generate so much power, even when in full sunlight and most power banks now have a very high battery capacity.
Below are a few examples of solar power banks and charging times in the sun estimated from manufacturers and user feedback:
- PEALIKER 30 hours to fully charge in the sun
- OUTXE 50 70 hours full charge
- ADDTOP Solar Charger 4 Panels much quicker some claim 4 hours in direct sunlight but the manufacturer says 25-50 hours
Outxe Ip67 Waterproof Solar Phone Charger
Boasting military-grade construction, OUTXE is a robust solar charger. Thanks to the IP66, it can also resist water. Mammoth 20,000mAh solid battery excels in charging your device at top speed. It can charge compatible devices up to 4x faster.
The LED flashlight comes with three light modes such as normal, SOS and strobe. Whats more, the 2W high conversion solar panel makes it a highly efficient and environment-friendly charger.
Pros
- Can charge your iPhone up to 4X faster
- Rugged construction is shockproof
- May not appeal to those who prefer a lightweight and compact design
Price: $49.99
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Best Overall: Qisa Solar Power Bank
Weight: 1.21 pounds | Dimensions: 8.35 x 4.25 x 1.18 inches | Output ports: Two USB, one Type-C, one wireless output charging for your phone | Accessories: Micro USB charging cable, lanyard, carabiner
With an enormous 30,000 mAh battery, the QiSa Solar Bank is one of the largest while still offering a reasonable price tag. The heavy-duty device is ideal for staying plugged in on long camping trips. Plus, the power banks ability to charge multiple devices and the bright, 200-lumen flashlight can come in handy during emergency situations.
Hassle-free wireless charging is available to Qi-compatible electronics, and additional USB ports allow up to four devices to connect at a time. The IP66-rated, rainproof solar panel can withstand moderate weather however, it should not be completely submerged.
Best Budget Solar Charger
Blavors Solar Power Bank does a little bit of everything, and does so at a very attractive price. Lets be clear, though: The solar cells on the top of this power bank arent large or efficient enough to charge your phone in an afternoon. The emphasis here is on the power banka beefy 10,000-mAh battery. The solar charging is supplemental at best Blavor doesnt even indicate its wattage, so consider it a fallback if you have no other option. That said, given enough time it will charge the integrated battery or your mobile devices.
That means this gadget works best if you head into your outdoor adventure with a fully charged battery. Not only does it have two USB ports , but it has Qi wireless charging as well. Its waterproof with an IPX4 rating and and includes dual flashlights for a very bright beam. It would be great if the solar charging were more effective, but the device would also probably be more expensive. As it is, its a great exercise in getting a lot on a small budget.
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Bonus Charger: Solar Panel Phone Case From Enerplex
Just a quick call out for the best solar panel phone case available.
The EnerPlex Surfr Ultra Slim Battery Backup & Solar Powered Case is the best choice for saving even more room in your trekking gear.
The case has an integrated 2000mAh battery that allows you to carry an extra charge on your way, giving you additional battery life.
What Even Is The Blavor Solar Power Bank
The Blavor Solar Power Bank is actually pretty crazy when you compare it to a normal power bank.
Ive been used to just the standard power banks that you just plug in at night and theyre full in the morning. With this, you have the option to have the SUN recharge your power bank.
Okay, okay- the solar power isnt that powerful. But if you look at the math, if you leave it in the sun for 10 hours, it will provide enough charge for an iPhone 11/S20 from 0-80%.
So, if youre walking out in California all day like I am, and you have it hanging off your backpack, you might find yourself getting a whole full recharge- and that can really make the difference if youre out all day.
That can get you another Uber or keep your GPS up so you can get home!
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How To Use A Solar Battery Charger
When you use your solar battery charger, youre going to need to take a few things into account. The first is to avoid using the battery unless it can get a full charge from the sun. This can take quite some time. It may be frustrating to have to wait for the full charge, but this is the same for most solar-powered chargers. They need a full charge to be useful. If you really need to use your charger, by all means, pull it out. However, keep in mind that its unlikely youll be able to charge your phone fully if you cant wait.
Another thing youll want to keep in mind is that you shouldnt use it while your solar battery charger is charging. The device will charge on its own whenever its out in a sunlit area, so its best to avoid charging your device up outside if you can. If you cant avoid charging your device outside, try to keep the solar charger under something that will prevent the suns rays from interfering with the charging process.
Durability & Build Quality
This portable charger is constructed with durable and rugged materials to ensure it can survive any impact it may sustain. Its also made of premium ABS fireproof plastic.
Since its shockproof, dustproof and has an IPX4 splashproof rating, the device is perfect for any outdoor activity, including hiking and/or camping. The shockproof feature means the device will be able to absorb shock and wont be susceptible to damage if you accidentally drop it. You can even use it in the rain and the internal circuits wont get damaged. With the dustproof feature, youll be ensured that your device will be kept safe from dust, which can degrade performance.
When you purchase the unit, it will come with a 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support. If you choose to register it via the manufacturers website, youll be able to add an extra 6 months to it, resulting in an 18-month warranty. If you wish to return the device for any reason, you may do so within 30 days of purchase for a refund. However, you must pay shipping costs if the return isnt related to quality issues. If theres a manufacturing defect in the device, you can exchange it within 12 months of purchase to receive a replacement.
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